Yusef Aben Alhamar felt the
insecurity of his position. The deposed monarch was at hand in Malaga;
the sovereign of Tunis espoused his cause, and pleaded with the
Christian monarchs in his favor; above all, Yusef felt his own
unpopularity in Granada; previous fatigues had impaired his health,
a profound melancholy settled upon him, and in the course of six
months he sank into the grave.
At the news of his death, Muhamed the Left-handed hastened from
Malaga, and again was placed on the throne. From the wrecks of the
Abencerrages he chose as viziers Abdelbar, one of the worthiest of
that magnanimous line. Through his advice he restrained his vindictive
feelings and adopted a conciliatory policy. He pardoned most of his
enemies. Yusef, the defunct usurper, had left three children. His
estates were apportioned among them. Aben Celim, the oldest son, was
confirmed in the title of Prince of Almeria and Lord of Marchena in
the Alpuxarras. Ahmed, the youngest, was made Senor of Luchar; and
Equivila, the daughter, received rich patrimonial lands in the fertile
Vega, and various houses and shops in the Zacatin of Granada. The
vizier Abdelbar counselled the king, moreover, to secure the adherence
of the family by matrimonial connections. An aunt of Muhamed was
accordingly given in marriage to Aben Celim, while the prince Nasar,
younger brother of the deceased usurper, received the hand of the
beautiful Lindaraxa, daughter of Muhamed's faithful adherent, the
alcayde of Malaga.
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